Lace eeel



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE E. FOX, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY A. FARMER, OF SAME PLACE.

LACE- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,955, dated May 5, 1885.

Application filed October 18. 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. FOX, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Lace-Reel Show-Case, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a show-case for exhibiting, mainly, laces, ribbons, or fancy fine goods produced in narrow ribbon-like webbings; and the object of this invention is to provide a receptacle of a suitable construction to contain laces, ribbons, and like articles of narrow webbings of delicate fabrics in a manner convenient for exhibiting and for sale in the trade, and in such a manner as to protect the goods from being soiled or injured in handling. To this end I have designed and constructed the apparatus represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an isometrical representation of a reel show-case embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section out at right angles to the axis of the drum and at one side of its center. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section cut parallel with its axis, and Fig. 4 is a repre: sentation of the border-plate of the peripheral openings of the drum and of the label-card.

In the figures,A represents the sides or ends, and B the peripheral rim, of a drum of suitable dimensions composed of any suitable material-such as suitable metallic plate material, paper, or of wood-preferably of wood veneers in several thicknesses placed with the lengthwise grain of the wood crossing each other, suitably glued and pressed into shape. These parts are joined to each other by uniting the outer edges of the peripheral rim with the outer edges of the sides in any suitable manner, producing a drum of suitable dimensions. This drum is provided with suitable trunnions, a, fixed to the axialcenter of the drum-headsand projecting outward therefrom. These trunnions are provided with an annular groove near their outer ends, forming suitable journal-bearings, b, on which the drum is mounted to revolve in a suitable frame.

At F is represented a base-support, in this instance consisting of a tripod or three-legged support. On this tripod is mounted a bifurcated supp-ortingframe consisting of a horizontal portion having its center at c fixed to the tripod, and its arms d suitably separated and rising in a vertical position from the outer portions of the horizontal port-ion. This drum is also provided with a central divisionwall, O,fixed within the peripheral rim thereof, preferably at one side of its center, dividing the drum into two compartments, D and E,

differing in size. The upper ends of the vertical arms at are provided with openings (2, of suitable dimensions, to freely receive the outer end portions of the trunnions a.

- At f are represented vertical slots formed in the upper portion of the vertical arms d, extending from the openings 6 downward. These vertical slots are of such asize as to receive the journal-bearings b of the trunnions a in a manner to revolve freely therein.

At h are represented reel-shafts, having one end at 6 produced in crank form, and are provided with a handle, 70, by means of which the shaft may be revolved. These reel-shafts are placed in the drum a suitable distance from its periphery and at proper intervals therein, and have their bearings in the center and outer walls of the drum in which they revolve. These reel-shafts are provided with one or more hooks or points, Z, projecting from their periphery, and are designed to engage the end of the fabric to be wound upon the reel-shaft.

At m are represented openings formed inthe periphery of the drumone between each pair of reel-shafts in each chamber of the drum. These openings are provided with a suitable binding, 0, in this instance produced from plate-metal material in proper form to embrace the edges of the openings and extend over a portion of the peripheral rim of the drum in a manner and form to secure a card, (represented at 1),) on which to write, print, or otherwise mark the name of the goods, the cost and selling prices, the number of yards wound upon the reel, and the number of yards sold or cut therefrom from time to time, all of which is indicated on the card represented at 1), held in position by means of the metallic binding-frame G, in a manner to be readily removed therefrom, and a new one inserted when a change is required.

At 8 are represented the two arms of a mirror supporting frame, in this instance produced from metallic wire bent to proper form, having the end portions of its arms enter suitable loops, it, formed for their reception on the upper end portions of the vertical arms (I of the supporting-frame in such a manner as to be readily removed and replaced.

At H is represented a mirror supported on the horizontal upper portion of the mirrorsupporting frame in a manner to render it capable of 'adj ustment to vary its inclination.

In the use of my improved lace-reel showcase constructed and mounted substantially as herein described, the end of the lace or other fabric is passed through the openings m in the peripheral rim of the drum in such a manner that its end portion will engage the reel,which is then made to revolve by means of the handle k 011 the crank-arm of the reel-shaft, which movement will cause the point or points Z on the shaft to engage the fabric, and the continued rotation of the reel-shaft will cause it to be Wound thereon as represented at u, leaving a portion, 10', thereof outside of the rim to represent the goods. The name of the goods, the characters representing the cost price thereof, the selling price, and the number of yards contained on the reel, or other data necessary or convenient may be written, printed, or otherwise fixed on or to the card 1), as represented in Fig. 4, or in any other convenient manner, and the number of yards of goods sold from any reel at any time may be marked on the card, and when the whole number of yards sold from any reel are deducted from the whole number of yards wound upon the reel, the balance will be the number of yards still remaining on the reel.

In this instance I have divided the drum into compartments differing in size, which enables me to use the larger compartment for laces or other ribbon-like goods of greater width, and the smaller compartment for goods of less width; but in the construction of the case the width of the compartments may be varied to meet the wants of the trade, or they may be constructed with a single compartment of any suitable dimensions to adapt them for use in exhibiting goods of any reasonable width, and of all classes capable of being handled in such or like cases.

In this instance I have employed the reelshaft as the reel on which to wind the webbings; but instead thereof aspool or reel of any suitable diameter may be mounted upon the 1ee1shaft Within the drum on which to wind webbings.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination,with the rotating drum and with the reels capable of a rotary movement within the drum, of the edge-bindings and price-card-holding frame, arranged over the openings through which the goods are passed to and from the reels, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the drum adapted to rotate on trunnions a in the arm cl, provided wit-l1 reels, of a rotary movement within the drum and peripheral openings through which to pass the goods to and from the reels of the edge-bindings o, and price-cardholding frame G, attached over the openings, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

3. In a revolving showcase, the combination, with a frame, F, provided with a cylindrical case, A, having openings, of shafts h, having crank-arms i, and the hooks Z on the shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE E. FOX.

\Vitn esses:

HENRY A. FARMER, A. O. BEHEL. 

